The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-24
THE GOSPELS INSPIRATION
Rev. C. E. RandalIs Discourse on It's
Effect in Causing People to Sing.
Sermons in City Churches Yesterday BY Wis
iting Christian Ministers-Rev. MOffet's
Discourse on "Chrst's Mission on Earth"

number of the pulpits Of the city were occu-
pied by visiting members of the Christian
Church yesterday. Invitations rendered
the convention by several other churches which
not supplied. because the great aiority of
she delegates present returned TO their homes on
Friday and Saturday. Rev. Robert Moffett
preached at Meridian street in the morning and
Central avenue IN the evening Rev. S. L.
Davis preached at the First Baptist Church in
the morning and Merid;an-street at night. Rev.
j. Is. Royal preached at the Sixth Christian
Church morning and evening The evening serv-
ice at Fourth Christian Church was conducted
by Rev. John Boggs, Rev. G. L. Brokaw
preached there in the morning and at South
Baptist Church in the evening. Rev. j. 81.
Hammond preached at Seventh-street Church
in the morning and at Third Christian Church
in the evening. The morning service at Third
Christian Church was conducted by Rev. Fl. B.
Hayden.
In the morning Rev. G. E. Randall, Christian
missionary to Jamaica. preached at Central
Christian Church, taking for his text, From
the uttermost parts OF the earth have we heard
SONGS" Isaiah XIV, 16 These words doubtless
referred at first to the captive Israelites, who
had been carried far away from their own land
On that land Gods judgment had been poured
forth. In their chief city destruction had over
taken many. but some were spared, though few
and feeble they appeared to be- The time would
come when those spared should reflect on the
majesty of God and begin to cry unto Him.
Then would He turn again their captivity and
have mercy upon them. and they should be de-
livered. Again they should be restored to their
land, and already. in anticipation of this, the
prophet exclaims: From the uttermost parts
of the earth have we heard songs"
wider
reference. said the speaker. The judgments
spoken of in this chapter may refer TO the last
days, when the Lord shall come forth to punish
terribly the wicked nations of the earth. But
out of those distresses the Lord will preserve
His own people. The disasters of others shall
be n sign of dsliverance to the elect, and they
shall be gathered from every part There is
still another sense in which these words may be
taken--that is, as indicating the resulting joy in
every part OF the world from the spread of the
gospel Wherever the gospel goes and exerts its
power. there songs shall burst forth. Thus,
blessings that shall be bestowed upon the ma
tions through the gospel dispensaton speak of
singing. 1t is forerold that Ethiopia shall
stretch out her hands to God, and the exhorta-
tion is given. Sing unto God, We Kingdoms of
the earth; . sing praises unto the Lord" There
are many similar passages
Why should the spread of the GOSPEL cause
songs, and of what are these songs expressivel
Fret, the gospel causes songs expressive of
delivsrance. When Israel had escaped from
EGYPT across the Red sea- they sang. It WAS
but natural That deliverance but a type
of the deliverance of the soul from sin. When
the soal that has been enslaved bv Satan is set
free, when the burden of guilt is removed, when
fears have been taken away, and when the
darkness Of the night of sin is chased away by
the light of che OF righteousness. that Is felt
to be a time of deliverancc indeed-a time when
From bonds of hell He freed our souls
And taught our lips to sing.
Second. the gospel causes songs expressive
of joy Joy is attendant on redemption. Then
Is the sprip grime OF the soul. The time of the
singing o. birds has come
Have they not reason to rejoice
Whose sins have been forgivena
You may as well try to stop the earth from
looking bright when there no clouds in the
sky as to try to prevent a soul from feeling joy
full when the light OF Gods reconctled counte-
nance shines upon it,
Third the gospel brings songs OF peace to the
lips. The first found joy becomes deeper 1t
may be quieler but the less real. When
the accusings of the law silenced, when the
troubled conscience is set at rest. when he no
longer seeks to establish a righteousness of his
own. or THINKS of purchasing heaven oy his own
merit, then he feels peace that passeth all
Outstanding, and may sing
Best be my lot whate'er befall;
What can disturb me, what appalI
While my strength. my rock, my all
Savior, cling to thee.
Fourth, the gospel causes songs expressive of
comfort. One OF the most beautiful aud Strik-
ing of Gods titles is 1.-The God of Comfort"
This brings Him very near to US in our hours of
weakness and trial Not few light the
sorrows which the believer is called upon to
bear, but when he can realize II am continually
with thee, what true hearts ease it affords.
Sweetlv the Saviors words come to his mind.
''Let not your Eeart be troubled" re,..
Fifth, the gospel Causes songs of hops. It is
not until God is known that true hope takes pos
session Of the SOUL All other hope shall fade
away Like the will-o -the-wisp it deludes the
weary traveller with uncertain light and at last
vanishes, leaving him disappointed. bewildered
lost. Not so the hope given by the gospel,
which is as an anchor to the soul. both sure and
steadfast, Under its influence many bear che
strongest trials patiently, and even joyfully: and
sorrows, prosecutions and Affections which
would otherwise be uncomfortable, become step
pingstones toward heaven.
These are the blessings which the gospel
brings, and now / would ask of each one here,
have you experienced these blessings and been
made thus to sing9 Some of you have not
known much of those songs. l would
you that the gospel can give songs when all else
will fail Observe, too. that these songs are be-
ing heard from many lands. The gospel is no
experiment.. 1t has been tested for 1900 years
If it could not do what nothing else can, it
would have been dead and forgotten long since
In these last days it Is producing these blessed
effects more widely than ever. No other agency
attempts such results. Armies
go forth to conquer, men of commerce to trade.
men of science TO explore but missionaries or
Christ 60 forth with the leaves of the of lifs
and the wilderness and the solitary place
made glad. Many heather who in his blind
ness had bowed down to wood ani stone learns
to look up to God as his father and becomes a
joint heir with Jesus Christ TO inheritance in
corruptbe, undetiled, and that shall nsver pass
away.
The speaker then gave instances of some of the
most degraded peoples who have been elevated
and blessed by the gospel. and exhorted Chris
tians to take part in the work.
Christ's Mission on Earth
Rev. Robert Moffett. secretary of the Chris
tian General Missionary Society, preached at
Meridian street Church in the morning from the
texts Believe me that am in the Father and
the Father in me; or else believe mo for the
very works sake. Verify, verify. say unto you,
He that beleveth on me. the works that 1 do
shall he do aiso and greater works than these
shall he do; because 60 unto my Father" John